TNAG-0847-FCO40-1057-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1979 — Page 46

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(b) On 11 June, there were 51,400 Vietnamese refugees temporarily

in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement. Over 50,000 have arrived

since January; in the same period only 3,400 have left for

Lome 7,000 of the total arrivals came on large

vessels (the huey Fong, Skyluck and Sen On) believed to be

engaged in trafficking in refugees for profit.

3.

resettlement.

Accommodation in Hong Kong

Accommodation for the refugees is desperately short: only

12,000 are in the UNHCR's care. The others are crowded into

prisons, temporary camps and the Government dockyard. New arrivals

now have to remain on the vessels on which they arrive, though

these are often crowded and in poor condition (see photographs

attached).

4.

Public Opinion in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chinese have little fellow-feeling for the refugees

even though most of them are ethnic Chinese. The Hong Kong Govern-

ment are coming under increasing pressure from the public to turn

boats away and, if necessary, to tow them back to sea. There is a

feeling of frustration at Hong Kong's impotence to deal with the

problem, and a strong belief that Britain should be doing more to

help.

Measures Teken to Leal with the Problem

5. (a) In Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Government have introduced tough new legis-

lation to deter refugee traffickers: the trial of the

Captain and others connected with the Huey Fong has just

started. Hong Kong is also cooperating with other govern-

ments in the region in obtaining and sharing advance

/intelligence